Legislators petition IGP, differ over council’s crisis

MEMBERS of the 20-man legislative arm of Uvwie Local Council of Delta State have written two protest letters to the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase on the leadership crisis currently engulfing the council.

While a group of eight, made up of Gabriel Araiyire, Efe Ani, Victor Okoloba, Ejiro Wilson Eghrudje, Jacob Otuedon, Kelly Ileleji, Glory Utuedor and Timi Ukwade; is alleging “oppressive and nefarious activities of the suspended chairman, Hon. Henry Baro and his thugs”, the rest 13 are accusing the state’s Comissioner of Police, Alkali Usman, of doing hatchet job for the council’s acting Chairman, Mrs. Stella Otiotio Daboner.

In both petitions made available to The Guardian, the aggrieved lawmakers urged the IGP to rescue them from the “oppressive attack by the suspended chairman,” whom they claimed often terrorise them and the acting council chief.

We are accredited members of the Uvwie Local Government Legislative Arm duly elected by the good people of Uvwie Local Government under the umbrella of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to act as check on the executive arm and make laws for the peace and good governance of Uvwie Local Government Council.

The Legislative Arm of Uvwie Local Government Council then led by Hon. Raymond Ebimiwei since resumption of legislative business, had been a rubber stamp legislature, hence we decided not to be rubber stamp. And we deemed it fit to carry out our legislative business.

This did not go down well with the suspended council chairman, as he felt we were challenging his authority, as he failed to reason that we were strictly doing our legislative business,” they said. “The suspended chairman has refused to give quarterly account to the legislative arm and has refused to present budget before the House, thus spending council funds recklessly.

Due to the reckless nature the suspended chairman has been spending and using council funds, he was petitioned before the Delta State House of Assembly whereupon the council boss was suspended and the matter referred to the Adhoc Committee on Investigation of Local Government Affairs to investigate the allegation and report its findings back to the House.

The Vice-Chairman, Hon. (Mrs.) Stella Otiotio Daboner was directed to act pending the conclusion of its investigation,” the group of eight alleged. On their part, the group of 12 who are sympathetic to the suspended chairman, accused Usman of oppressing them.

The group, in their petition, noted that there has been “unwarranted tension” in the council after the 2015 general elections occasioned by the alleged infiltration of Uvwie politics by a prominent politician and legislator from Warri North Local Council.

According to the legislators: “We wish to bring to your notice that your Commissioner of Police, Mr. Alkali Usman, has deviated from his policing work and he is now a ready tool being used to promote crisis in Uvwie.

He provided security for the suspended acting chairman to resume office against the order of the legislative arm. “We, therefore, enjoin you to use your good office to wade into this matter by calling your Commissioner of Police to order and if possible, invite all interested parties to your office for interaction,” they added.